HELLO! READERS HELP SET A CRACKER OF A CHARITY RECORD
SOME OF BRITAIN’S MOST FAMOUS FACES BRING VITAL SEASONAL CHEER TO THOSE IN GREATEST NEED
Generous hello! readers have helped raise a record-breaking £33m – in just one week! – after joining charities and celebrities to back a Christmas campaign.
Big Give, the UK’s leading matchfunding organisation, founded by philanthropist Sir Alec Reed, last week announced its Christmas Challenge had smashed its £30m target, bringing much-needed funds to more than 1,000 charities. Almost half the money raised will go to those who need it most – small concerns with an annual income of less than £1m. hello! helped spread the word about the appeal, which ran from 28 November until 5 December: donations made through the Big Give platform were matched pound for pound, doubling the amount raised with donations from companies and philanthropists.
As media partner, hello! published interviews with famous names including Sarah, Duchess of York – who appealed for donations to Ruddi’s Retreat, a respite facility for families dealing with cancer treatment – and Dame Shirley Bassey, who is patron of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity, which saw its coffers boosted by more than £100,000.
Other famous faces on board included Dame Joanna Lumley, Alan Carr, Miquita Oliver, Larry Lamb, Jenny Agutter, Kate Humble, Jason Watkins and Megan McCubbin.
GIVING JOY
Last week, comedienne Ruby Wax was among those celebrating at Big Give’s Christmas party after Frazzled Café, the charity she founded
